Hull boss keen to mark Portsmouth's card and send strong message out to Peterborough, Lincoln, Ipswich and Doncaster Rovers

The Tigers currently sit at the summit of the standings – two points above the Blues with a game in hand.

A win would certainly cement their tag a bookies’ favourites for the title.

It would also ensure they remain top of the table at Christmas – an important benchmark in any season.

McCann knows, however, that this evening’s game will be as hard as they come for his side this term.

He respects Kenny Jackett as a manager and the job he’s done throughout his career.

The Hull manager also knows his opposite number will have a team prepared and ready to go for the challenge.

The Blues also go into the game with the hope of topping the festive table, and head to the KCOM with the joint-second best away form in the division, as the league’s top scorers, and with wins against fellow-promotion contenders Sunderland, Lincoln, Peterborough and Ipswich already in the can.

With such a record and plenty at stake, McCann believes victory for his side will make the chasing pack stand up and take notice.

He told Hull’s official website: ‘It’s a great game.

‘We’re a week away from Christmas day, it’s Hull against Portsmouth, a top-of-the-table clash.

‘It’s where we want to be. We set out to be up and around the top end of the league and we are, with the halfway point not so far away.

‘It’s a good game, two good teams – two teams I believe will be in and around it come the end of the season.

‘It’s another challenge for us.

‘Playing against Kenny Jackett teams over the years, they’re always strong, defensively well organised and they’ve always got people at the top end of the pitch that can hurt you.

‘We know what they’re all about and they’re a good team – well organised, well drilled and we’ll have to be good to win.

‘It’s a good marker for us because Portsmouth have been in and around the top end of the league for a few years.

‘They’re probably disappointed they haven’t got out of it but they’ve come close.

‘We’ve got a good group of boys here and we’re looking forward to the game.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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